I would use a CB before I would use FRS/GMRS department store handhelds. 28 mile range, its possible I suppose, possible if you are standing on top of a mountain out in the desert on a very clear day, but in the woods on flatland, from a "28 mile" or typically a ONE WATT radio, expect about 1.5 to 2 miles, and if its pineywoods, expect less, something about pine trees and higher frequencies that is not good.
If you are up in the mountains, in certain terrain the signal will reflect and cancel itself out, with a "28 MILE" radio there is one spot less than 1/4 mile from the house where the signal will not get out at all.
I would listen to the doctor and go with MURS, and look on ebay for a "lot", typically (4 to 8 radios typically) of VHF handhelds for the 150-174 "landmobile' band such as motorola visar or HT-1000 and have a shop reprogram them for murs channels. Some years ago, alot of boys would hunt (illegally) with VHF marine radios, before MURS and before FRS/GMRS, most everyone used VHF marine band to hunt on. I recall getting 5 miles over flatland in the woods, from a 5 watt handheld to handheld before, but I was just a child back then, I dont remember much other than actually shooting something.
MURS is in the same band, I would expect it behave the same as VHF marine.
CB handhelds work surpisingly good, if you obtain a longer antenna, with the old radio shack handhelds that come with an almost 4 foot long telescopic antenna, expect about 3 miles even in rugged terrain, even better on flatland or when terrain is to your advantage. Also expect that antenna to catch, snag and eventually break in the woods.